Judge rules Trump pardon doesn't cover pipe bomb suspect

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled that President Donald Trump's mass pardons for January 6 Capitol rioters do not apply to Brian Cole Jr., who is charged with planting pipe bombs near the United States — Republican National Committee and United States — Democratic National Committee headquarters on the eve of the riot. Ali concluded that the pardon was expressly limited to individuals convicted of offenses related to the January 6 attack, and Cole had not been charged or convicted at the time of the pardon. Cole was arrested nearly a year after the pardons and faces charges including interstate transportation of explosives and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction. A trial is set for February 16, 2026.